This section includes a listing of some web development tips, tools and training available at UMD.
All University pages must comply with the University's Accessibility of Information Technology policy.
A well designed page can be every bit as attractive and flashy as any other page on the Web while remaining accessible. In addition, the improvements made because of accessibility issues will benefit all users.
Simple additions of "alt" attributes in images and table headers for headings in a table increase the usefulness of a Web page. Accessibility and usability go together as part of the total Web design.
Usability is harder to define, but just as important as other factors when designing a web site. Some things to consider:
True, content creators can force fonts, font sizes, table sizes, image sizes, etc., but this may result in frustration for the user ultimately causing the user to go away. Nothing is worse than having to scroll all the way to the right just to see some information put in a fixed width table.
Use tools like Cascading Style Sheets and use them in such a way that users may still override your settings. In this way a user may still access what your site has to offer, but in a manner suitable for him or her.
Background images improperly used can also make it difficult to read text. Be careful of the combination you choose.
Web Typography takes us into the world of fonts and font sizes. For many users a sans-serif font is easier to read on an electronic screen. With proper use of Cascading Style Sheets, you can specify a font, but still allow the user to change to his or her desired font.
Macs, Windows, iPads, Smartphones - UMD, like the rest of the world, supports a mixture of computers, operating systems, and browsers (Firefox, IE, Opera, Chrome). Additionally, we have people connecting from on-campus 10 or 100Mb connections or through cable modems and DSL, but also through our modem pool.
Do try to create Web pages that work on many computers and browsers. There is a limit to how many may be addressed successfully, but creating a Web page that requires the latest super computer and greatest bandwidth will limit the number of users visiting your site.
Validating your HTML and CSS coding is the best way to ensure that your web pages work well for all users. There are a number of free validation sites you can use, including an add-on for Firefox that allows you to quickly and easily check coding on each page.
A number of online tools are available to assist in creating and validating web page HTML and CSS code for usability and accessibility. A few of the more frequently used tools are listed at right. For a detailed listing of many more tools, see: Web Design References: Tools.
ITSS offers a variety of training through workshops, technology sessions, and online training materials. The UMD Center for Economic Development(CED) also offers a number of computer workshops related to web design, including Dreamweaver, Illustrator and Photoshop.
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